Did 2022 teach you any new business lessons?

As we welcome the new year, I can’t help but reflect back on last year and all that it taught me. As wild and crazy as it may have seemed, I am walking away with a lot of business lessons and fresh perspectives on how to carry myself into this new year. 

And why waste any time getting to it, let’s dive right into: 

8 BUSINESS LESSONS I LEARNED IN 2022

1. It’s okay to rest.

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to feel as if they have to spend 80 hours a week actively running their businesses. Somewhere along the lines, we’ve been taught to wake up before the sun and stay up long after it sets simply because we believe the amount of hours we spend on our business is the most important thing we can do.

The amount of time you spend on your business does not measure your level of success. You do not need to add another ten hours to your day in order to become profitable in your business. Simply busying yourself with an overwhelming workload is not the key to success and it’s not the way to create the business you’ve been dreaming of. You do not have to work yourself silly to find success. But you do need to find time to rest. 

 

2. You can escape hustle culture. 

Somewhere along the lines, society has told us that we need to force ourselves to be hurried, we need to obtain success through forceful action, and we need to be busy swindling people, mainly ourselves, to believe this method produces ultimate success. 

I don’t know about you, but in 2022 this was one of my greatest business lessons. I proudly confessed that I wanted nothing to do with that kind of hustle in my business. Throwing out the idea of hustle in running a business does not mean that you don’t have to work hard, it simply means you don’t have to force a narrative that the more hurried you are, the more successful you’ll become. 

 

3. You can still build a business offline. 

I surely am guilty of focusing all of my growth efforts in the online realm, but what would it look like to grow our businesses and build an email list offline? 

It would look like a lot of trade shows, in-person events, word of mouth, and even snail mail. And I know that seems like a lot of work. But entrepreneurs have been making their business work like that for decades. It seems so silly to assume that social media and all of the other platforms we love to connect on will always be here. 

This is why it’s so crucial to be thinking of ways to connect and engage with your ideal clients offline. With smart planning, we can make them just as efficient as posting online!

 

4. Your story has power.

Most companies waste an enormous amount of money on marketing and when I tell you why you’re going to feel it in your bones. This is one of those business lessons that just makes sense once you discover the truth. 

The reality is that people buy products only after they’ve read words that make them want to buy our products. And I hate to say it, but almost all of us have been talking to our customers the wrong way. 

Our brains are designed to do two things. The first thing our brains are designed to do is to help us survive and thrive. This means everybody is always looking around for information that will help them simplify life. We want to make more money, meet new friends, and increase our standing in the world.

The best way to compel a human brain is to use the power of story. The average person spends about 30% of their time daydreaming, except when they’re engaged in a story. The StoryBrand seven-part framework acts as a filter you can use to clarify your message so customers listen.

Have you ever focused on telling your story?

 

KEEP READING, THERE’S MORE!

 

 

5. Staying organized will save your sanity. 

Staying organized is something you should be prioritizing when running your own business. But let’s be honest, for a lot of us creative-minded, free thinkers, keeping up with organization can be a full-time job in itself. Even if “master organizer” isn’t a skill you’d include on your resume, it is still such a crucial part of running a successful business. And I’m here to tell you, it’s easy to achieve than you may think! 

I have learned that in order to maintain healthy emotions in both my life and my business, I have to keep myself organized. That doesn’t mean things never get messy, but I have come to a place where I know when the mess is getting in the way. And a simple system for reorganization gets me right back on track! 

 

6. Knowing your limits will lead to success. 

If you’re overwhelmed because you feel like you have to do all the things, knowing your limits will change your life. I know that sounds dramatic but it’s true. 

Just as doing a million things while driving your car is incredibly unsafe, so is doing a million things while running a business. Setting limits takes away the need to do multiple things all at once. If you limit yourself to only the tasks you can handle in one day, you won’t find yourself trying to do them all at the same time. And that is such a freeing feeling! 

 

7. Setting boundaries will set you free. 

A question I get asked a lot: “What is the number one thing that has made your business successful?”

And the answer to this is always the same, boundaries. 

I talk about boundaries a lot because they’ve not only saved my business, they’ve actually helped it grow. And so I decided that I needed to start setting boundaries. But in baby steps, because I was still afraid to “let go” of what I thought was control, but later realized was a scarcity mindset. The truth is, boundaries are hard to set at first, just like with any new habit. But, once you put them in place AND abide by what you’ve set,  they truly will set your free.

 

8. Your physical and mental health is the most important part of your business. 

This is the first year in my entrepreneurial journey that I actually took a step back and said, “You know what? Something just isn’t right. I shouldn’t be feeling this bad all the time.” And it’s kind of embarrassing to admit that it took me over twenty years to realize something just wasn’t right, but that’s why I think this is so important to talk about. Because it isn’t embarrassing at all. It’s honestly the most important thing I could have learned out of all the business lessons in the world. 

It’s simply years of giving in to the idea that I didn’t have time to take care of myself. Putting my family and my business in front of my physical and mental health. All because I listened to the narrative that there isn’t time for it. And I know that so many people can resonate with this. 

Trust me, I totally understand how daunting it feels to hear things like, time for rest, say no when necessary, take things off your plate, fuel your body with good nutrients, and move your body as often as possible. All on top of running your business and caring for your family. But you don’t have to do it all at once. 

 

TAKE BABY STEPS

Pick one thing today that you can start implementing. When that becomes a habit, add in another. As hardworking, driven entrepreneurs I know it doesn’t sound easy to hear you have to do less. But I truly believe if we can walk far, far away from the lies of hustle culture, we will find that implementing these things isn’t doing less, it’s actually doing more. Because the more good we can do for our bodies, the more good we will inadvertently do for our business. 

And while I know that I spent the year learning far more than 8 business lessons, these are simply the ones that have made the greatest impact on my business. I am not only a better entrepreneur, but a better mother, wife, daughter, and friend. All because of the things 2022 taught me.

I hope you’ll take some time today to reflect on this past year to discover the things you’ve also learned. And if you feel like you’re walking away without a single lesson learned, feel free to borrow mine. I am certain they will set you up for success in this bright, new year!